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Pandemic plagues Scottsdale educators with subpar test scores

While it was to be expected that students’ test scores may be affected from COVID-19’s impact to the classroom, new data shows how deeply students’ learning was disrupted.
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SCOTTSDALE COMMERCE & NEWS
IN THE KNOW
GoDaddy employees offered $1K to get COVID-19 vaccine, flu shot

During a company-wide Zoom meeting, Bob Parsons announced he would not be making vaccines mandatory for the employees of his YAM Worldwide portfolio of companies, instead he is offering an incentive.

Scottsdale Wealth Advisory Practice donates more than $30,000 to Valley charities

North Scottsdale Realtor joins selective women’s leadership council

New give-back effort afoot as Arizona pizza shop supports Special Olympics

The Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation names Tom Egan executive director

NEWS
Crime

FBI arrests woman suspected of robbing Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale banks

On Oct. 13, FBI and Phoenix Police Department officials worked together to arrest a 27-year-old woman accused of robbing four east Valley banks. Taylor Stewart, 27, was arrested without incident, …
First Responders

1 man in local ICU after being shot at Scottsdale hotel

One person has been arrested and booked on charges after a man was shot at a Scottsdale Holiday Inn on Oct. 11. Avinady Juarez “AJ” Gonzales, 20, was arrested by Scottsdale SWAT team …
Community

Scottsdale commissioner opens up about bee experience that prompted new advocacy effort

Farmers love them because they provide agricultural pollination, they produce more than $15 billion worth of crops in the United States each year, and every third bite of food taken is in thanks to: …

Scottsdale Police Department advise against ‘Devious Licks’ school challenges

The Scottsdale Police Department joins the Scottsdale Unified School District and the Cave Creek Unified School District to address an upcoming monthly TikTok School Challenge called, Devious Licks.
First Responders

Police: Woman, vehicles attacked at Scottsdale trailhead

A 23-year-old Phoenix man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman with a baseball bat, burglarizing a city vehicle and more at Scottsdale’s Gateway Trailhead this week, police …
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Scottsdale City Council to consider removal of developmental review board member

Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega is asking the city council to evaluate a Developmental Review Board member’s ability to continue serving following their reported sequence of absences from board …

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SCOTTSDALE OPINION

Staalberg: It’s time for city council to stand up for south Scottsdale

I’ve lived in this same south Scottsdale area for over 55 years. I live 50 feet south of the south Scottsdale border, but all my business (ie, grocery stores, drugstores, doctors offices) goes …
(Arianna Grainey/Independent Newspapers)

Smith: Confused by what a Scottsdale politician says?

Scottsdale voters should be confused by Councilwoman Littlefield’s Opinion piece urging voters to not support the Scottsdale General Plan 2035. The piece appeared Monday, October 11, timed to …

Cantor: Scottsdale’s mature neighborhoods want to pass general plan

The Scottsdale Edge blog carried comment on the “Vote No on the General Plan” signs and the 501(c)(4) group that provides the dark money support — would you bet that our previous …

Manross: Anonymous Scottsdale general plan mailings, signs spreading misinformation

Who is the anonymous group behind the hit piece and negative signs against the Scottsdale general plan? Who are you and who are your financial backers? If you are unwilling to identify …

Mayor Ortega: So predictable — outsider dark money is attacking Scottsdale

So predictable, outsider dark money is attacking Scottsdale! They want to blade Old Town and encroach into the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. They would weaken our family-friendly neighborhoods, …

Fishman: Disinformation campaigns ought not to control Scottsdale housing

I have followed with great interest the disinformation and vitriolic campaign including videos (funded by who?) regarding the apartment proposal. For instance, the number of misrepresentations in …
Photo by Arianna Grainey

Littlefield: Why I’m voting ‘no’ on Scottsdale’s general plan update

There has been a lot of misinformation floating around about my position on the general plan update (Prop. 463) and I want to make sure everyone knows exactly where I stand on this issue. I voted …
Photo by Arianna Grainey

Whitehead: Scottsdale deserves the best, vote ‘yes’ general plan 2035

Scottsdale’s allure was built on exceptional design standards, world-class amenities, and an expansive amount of protected open space. However, Scottsdale’s current general plan is …

Huizar: Scottsdale Unified School District only serves 54% of its school-aged residents

According to a report by Applied Economics published on March 30, 2021, the decline of enrolled Scottsdale Unified School District students will continue for the projected future. The report …

Kush: I can’t support Scottsdale’s general plan update

During my many years of service on the Scottsdale Planning Commission, there were several meetings where city staff updated us on the progress of the revised general plan and asked us for our …

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SCOTTSDALE EDUCATION
Calendar of events
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The Scottsdale Unified School District is the subject of formal complaints filed with the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

Scottsdale school board hit with open meeting complaints

Several people along with a prominent government watchdog group have filed complaints against the Scottsdale Unified School District governing board with the Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s Office regarding alleged issues with open meeting law violations, transparency and more.
Students learn techniques for assisting with surgical procedures in the adult surgical technology program.

EVIT celebrates 30 years of changing lives

This school year marks the 30th anniversary of Arizona’s first and oldest Career Technical Education District — the East Valley Institute of Technology. What started out as one campus …
Steve Bernasek has taught diesel technologies at East Valley Institute of Technology since 2016.

EVIT teacher named national automotive instructor of the year

Steve Bernasek, diesel technologies teacher and team lead for automotive programs at the East Valley Institute of Technology, has been named the 2021 ASE Education Foundation Byrl Shoemaker …
The St. Catherine of Bologna Performing Arts Center on the Notre Dame Prep campus opened on Aug.11 at the start of the 2021-22 school year. Construction began in March 2020 and school officials had the grand opening of the 20,000 square foot building on Sept. 30.

Notre Dame Prep celebrates Performing Arts Center grand opening

Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega and philanthropist Dody Pitre of The Pitre Family Foundation were among the more than 100 attendees at the grand opening of the St. Catherine of Bologna Performing Arts Center.
School district personnel must follow the state laws that have been established to protect children from physical and sexual abuse as required by law.

Scottsdale Schools leaders add updates to child abuse, protection policy

Revising the district’s policy was agreed upon consent for the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board as efforts remain to protect children.
Scottsdale Neighbors & Business Reporting
Neighbors

Arcadia High grad featured in new Hulu show

Social media influencer and Scottsdale native, Tess Levin, is “rolling in the dough” after recently competing in a baking reality show.
Stronger Together

Valley volunteers come together to build new playground for Mesa children

In early October, more than 100 volunteers from Fiesta Bowl Charities and Salt River Project joined KABOOM! to build a state-of-the-art playground at a local community center. The new …
Subscriber Exclusive

Phoenix Heart Ball prepares for grand return

The wait is nearly over. After a long hiatus because of COVID-19, the Phoenix Heart Ball is preparing for the return of its highly- anticipated, black-tie fundraising raising event for heart …

Caregiver training site opens in Scottsdale

The new Senior Helpers Center of Excellence in Caregiving has opened in Scottsdale as a comprehensive training facility for certified caregivers and community members who assist the elderly.
Neighbors

Scottsdale Community Partners presents inaugural October raffle for residents in need

Going on through the entire month of October, Scottsdale Community Partners will be raising funds to support Scottsdale students, families, and seniors with its inaugural Givetober 50/50 …

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Business

Paradise Valley resident and lauded business woman Candy Valentino is hosting a live event this month featuring top industry and entrepreneur professionals. At the Oct. 20-22 Founders’ Live …

Tower Compactor recently donated $105,000 to Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona as the two companies have worked together for more than a decade.
Wilde Wealth Management Group financial advisory firm has begun construction on expanding its Scottsdale headquarter office at 7025 N. Scottsdale Road.
72SOLD affiliate Hague Partners has announced the acquisition of The Midland Team, a residential and commercial real estate group from the Midland Real Estate Alliance brokerage in Tempe.

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Scottsdale Entertainment
Fountain Hills Theater will hold a Monster Mash Halloween special event at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24.

FHT presents Monster Mash concert to be held Oct. 24

Fountain Hills Theater is holding a special Halloween event at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24.
Hidden in the Hills

25th annual Hidden in the Hills artist studio tour set for last two weekends of November

The nonprofit Sonoran Arts League will host Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour, Hidden in the Hills, during the last two weekends of November.  This year’s …
Kierland POP will feature more than 50 arts experiences, food, wine, cocktails, live music and entertainment, shopping, staycations, an artisan market, a 5K Fun Run/Walk, and more.

Fifth-Annual Kierland Pop event ‘pops off’ in Scottsdale, Nov. 5-7

Kierland POP’s fifth-annual outdoor festival is Friday, Nov. 5 through Sunday, Nov. 7 in Scottsdale.
Available to the public as well as Frank Lloyd Wright members, a few highlights of what’s new at Taliesin West this season range from sunset tours to Shakespeare-inspired performances, expert-led lectures, art workshops, K-12 learning camps and more.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation debuts new programs at Taliesin West

This season, guests from all over the world will have the opportunity to rediscover Taliesin West and learn more about Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy and principles of architecture in new ways.
Scottsdale Arts includes Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale Public Art, and Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation.

Scottsdale Arts awards community arts grants to 22 organizations

Scottsdale Arts has awarded $131,000 in community arts grants to 22 local organizations for the 2021–2022 fiscal year. Of the 22 organizations receiving grants, 13 received the full amount …

Meet the artist: Augmented reality artist will bring year 2268 to Canal Convergence

Meet Phoenix artist Roy Wasson Valle, who makes augmented reality experiences with his creative partner, Koryn Woodward. This November, Wasson Valle will host a workshop at Canal Convergence, Nov. …

Scottsdale International Film Festival opens and closes with Oscar 'buzzworthy' films

The Scottsdale International Film Festival, a yearly eight-day event that connects audiences with award-winning cinema from around the globe, is returning for its 21st year, kicking off opening night …

Iconic Scottsdale Parada del Sol will ride through Old Town this February

The 67th Annual Scottsdale Parada del Sol Parade and Trail’s End Festival returns to Scottsdale in 2022 --- keeping the beloved tradition alive. Typically held the second weekend of the …

Meet the Artist: Sound artist Hayes hosts Canal Convergence workshop

Meet local sound artist, Lauren Sarah Hayes, who explores the sculpting of sound by manipulating, remixing and bending noise. This November, Hayes will host a workshop at Canal Convergence, Nov. …
Arizona Musicfest’s 31st anniversary season — The Stars Return to Musicfest.

Arizona Musicfest to celebrate season's 31st anniversary, tickets on sale

Tickets are on sale for Arizona Musicfest’s 31st anniversary season — The Stars Return to Musicfest with a lineup of artists to celebrate the return of live indoor concerts in north Scottsdale.

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